Shantybeater's S54 - BMWCar Mag+Xenon\Cruise Retrofit

[shantybeater]

Re: Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

July 20th 2011

A few High Res shots from the BMW show:

 

[shantybeater]

Re: Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

October 2nd 2011

A little while since my last update,

Well where to start, the car has a new home now, safe and sound at night (and possibly hibernating for winter - i might be joining the summer only owners):

I've expanded my cleaning products!, this is the core stuff, there is more hanging up in bags:

The car passed its MOT with no advisories on friday which was good

She has also had a front end respray (bonnet/bumper). While at it I had the drivers side door done and wings blended thanks to a dent appearing in the door which was unrepairable via paintless methods).

Its lovely to see an unmolested front end, compared with my bro's s50 it has always looked quite stone chipped. I'm hesitant to refit the AC flippers while the paint is clean..whats everyones thoughts? better with or without?

The weekend before last I attacked the car with clay using dodo juice's best of bling, then AG SRP and I switched to Collinite 476s for a finish. So far i'm very impressed especially considering its price! I'll report back on durability, it says on the tin it protects for at least 12months which i thought was pretty impressive

We've also upgraded to a decent SLR, we chose the Canon 550D which seems to be arguably the best entry level camera. I travelled up to Somerset to say goodbye to my bro who is emigrating to Thailand for the year, gave him a hand tucking up his M and prepping it for a year of sleep. Whilst there I tried out the new camera, these were my best efforts of the weekend:

Final shot before the car was put away:

Messing with settings/angles

Spot anything new? Storm cig lighter blank has finally turned up!:

Any comments welcome and tips on the shots as well!!

 

[shantybeater]

Re: Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

November 6th 2011

Well the thursday before last i left the car in my work's private car park as I always do and came back to this:

Thankfully I managed to find the culprit and they have agreed to pay for the repair. So the car is going back in to the bodyshop for either a replacement wing or a repair and a new taillight.

 

[shantybeater]

Re: Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

December 9th 2011

Well time for an update now the site is back online

I picked the car up from the bodyshop a few weeks back with the wing repair/respray and new rear tailight (courtesy of the culprit thank god!). The repair is perfect, no imperfections at all! Whilst there I asked for the nearside sideskirt to be resprayed as one of the previous owners managed to scuff it.

The paintwork is now very close to where I want it. There are a few passenger side small car parking dents which need seeing to and If I was being really anal the boot has one or two hairline scratches on it. I can only assume someone closed the boot holding keys in their hand!

Next up was a few overdue touches:

- Bosch Aero Wipers

- BMW Sport Aerial (Thanks to Tim for uploading this on his thread)

Before

After

- New Underbonnet Foils

 

[shantybeater]

Re: Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

December 26th 2011

Changed over my front pads today to EBC Reds. My old ones looked low but after removal there was still a good amount of meat left! ahh well!! it was a good way to spend boxing day! :lol: and a good excuse to regrease the coilovers

I almost wish i'd gone for red paint on the calipers, they stick out like a sore thumb! (Sorry about the filthy rim!)

 

[shantybeater]

Re: Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

Update: On Tuesday my car is going up to a studio for a shoot. It will be appearing in a well known magazine! Not sure how big a role it will play but i'll get the pics up when I can

Cheers,
James

 

[Daz3]

Re: Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

congrats matey I'm sure it'll play a big role , looks great :-bd
What do you grease your coilovers with does this attract road dirt and grit to stick to the threads?

 

[Jonttt]

Re: Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/to ... photoshoot

:bulb If you can take some pics of the studio setup etc ;-)

 

[zedwheels]

Re: Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

James you should feel realy proud of that car it looks absolutely fantastic.
Bl**dy good job you found out the culprit who dinged you, but good on him for admitting to it too!!
Nice pics. :-bd

 

[GazHyde]

Re: Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

:bulb If you can take some pics of the studio setup etc ;-)

Great idea, that would be an interesting read...

 

[shantybeater]

Re: Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

congrats matey I'm sure it'll play a big role , looks great :-bd
What do you grease your coilovers with does this attract road dirt and grit to stick to the threads?

Cheers mate I use ordinary copper grease, it does attract the odd bit of dirt but it will stop them seizing up

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=181&t=1102070&mid=0&nmt=M+Cars+needed+for+magazine+photoshoot

:bulb If you can take some pics of the studio setup etc ;-)

Are you spying on me Jon?

Don't worry my SLR is packed, there is an array of old cars there inc. an original batmobile CSL!

James you should feel realy proud of that car it looks absolutely fantastic.
Bl**dy good job you found out the culprit who dinged you, but good on him for admitting to it too!!
Nice pics. :-bd

Thankyou, it makes it all worthwhile when I get replies like this I agree completely regarding the ding, there was no hard evidence in the end and they were very good about it.

Great idea, that would be an interesting read...

As above will do Gaz B-)

 

[TitanTim]

Re: Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

Looking fantastic as always ^^

Tim.

 

[('_')Z3]

Re: Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

I love your car, I love my car even though it's only a 2.0ltr and can't imagine swapping it but if I did it would be yours I'd swap it for (not that you'd sell it).

 

[shantybeater]

Re: Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

Thanks ('_')Z3 thats very nice of you to say :-bd

Quick peek from the shoot:

It will be in BMWCar Magazines March issue

More photos here:

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=656

 

[Jonttt]

Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

How long did you spend cleaning it lol

 

[shantybeater]

Re: Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

Well I cleaned it three times: once on sat (followed by engine bay and interior Sunday) and tucked her up in the garage. Then had to drive to work so parked outside on Monday...it rained so I cleaned it Monday night then back into her warm garage. Woke up to p****** rain on Tuesday so had to wipe it down as best I could upon arrival!

 

[shantybeater]

Re: Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

Just got the car back from its inspection I + extras £678 lighter. Breakdown of jobs covered (for the purpose of keeping the thread up to date - and bore the living daylights out of everyone!):

- Inspection I inc. Valve Clearance check/rocker & spark plug gaskets/Oil filter/Castrol Edge 10w60
- Exhaust refitted and realigned (it moved out of alignment slightly after fitment)
- Replaced viton seal for constant pressure valve e.g. http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33191
- Aircon and Powersteering/Alternator belt replacement. Apparently good for 100K according to BMW but the old ones had started to crack (@54k)
- Brake fluid change
- Coolant change

Plus tax was due so my car costs this month is almost four figures (without inc fuel!).

 

[badman gee]

Re: Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

money no object mate!!!!!

 

[HornelZ3M]

Re: Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

Really looks flawless mate, all credit to you, cant wait to see it in July

 

[g8jka]

Re: Shantybeater's Titanium Silver S54

Looking great as always \m/

Can't wait to see the pictures in the BMWCar magazine :-bd